Comparative practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 309

Figure 10.1 Evolution of EIA systems.
of their activities in the country without EIA requirements. Over time, the country
institutes EIA guidelines or regulations. These may prompt a rapid surge in the number of
EIAs carried out in that country, as was the case in most EU countries. However, the
regulations may apply to only a limited number of projects, or may be widely ignored,
leading to only a small increase. Over time, the regulations may be fine-tuned or added
to, the number of EIAs carried out annually levels off and the EIA system is effectively
“mature”. The current status of EIA in different countries can be roughly charted on this
continuum. Figure 10.2 broadly shows this status by continent, though individual
countries may vary from this.
Figure 10.2 Current status of EIA
systems worldwide.